Zimbabwe Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Zimbabwe's female labor participation was 62.16% in 2025, ranked 35th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Zimbabwe's female labor participation stood at 62.16% in 2025, a rise of +0.04pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 63.19% by 2026. Zimbabwe ranked 35th globally.
Zimbabwe’s female labour‑force participation has risen modestly but steadily over the 36‑year series, moving from a trough of 59.15 % in 1990 to an all‑time peak of 62.18 % in 2023 and reaching 62.16 % in 2025, ranking 35th globally. The incremental gain of just 0.03 percentage points between the 2023 peak and the latest figure suggests that the upward momentum has largely plateaued after three decades of gradual expansion. By comparison, peer economies such as Switzerland (62.22 %) and Norway (62.09 %) cluster closely around Zimbabwe’s current level, indicating that the country now operates near the participation rates of advanced European labour markets despite differing structural contexts. The persistence of this narrow band around the early‑2020s peak reflects both the consolidation of women’s entry into formal employment and the constraints of limited sectoral diversification. Future shifts in agricultural mechanisation, digital job creation, or policy incentives for female entrepreneurship could either revive modest growth or cement the current equilibrium in female labour participation.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 64.48% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 63.83% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 63.19% | - | - |
| 2025 | 62.16% | +0.04pp | #35 |
| 2024 | 62.12% | −0.06pp | #36 |
| 2023 | 62.18% | +2.41pp | #38 |
| 2022 | 59.77% | −0.35pp | #51 |
| 2021 | 60.12% | +0.69pp | #45 |
| 2020 | 59.43% | −1.29pp | #44 |
| 2019 | 60.72% | +0.10pp | #42 |
| 2018 | 60.62% | +0.09pp | #45 |
| 2017 | 60.52% | +0.08pp | #43 |
| 2016 | 60.44% | +0.06pp | #44 |
| 2015 | 60.38% | +0.02pp | #46 |
| 2014 | 60.36% | −0.01pp | #41 |
| 2013 | 60.37% | −0.05pp | #43 |
| 2012 | 60.42% | −0.07pp | #44 |
| 2011 | 60.50% | −0.09pp | #44 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zimbabwe matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zimbabwe's female labor participation was 62.16% in 2025. Ranked 35th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Zimbabwe's female labor participation peaked at 62.18% in 2023.
The lowest female labor participation in Zimbabwe was 59.15% in 1990.
Zimbabwe ranks 35th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zimbabwe's female labor participation is projected to reach 63.19% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Zimbabwe in 2025 was 62.16%. This ranks 35th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zimbabwe_female-labor-participation,
title = {Zimbabwe Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zimbabwe/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}